Don’t leave winter birds out in the cold. Try these tips to thaw your icy bird bath.
Water is a great way to attract birds to your backyard…even in the winter months. Usually, a dish or ceramic bowl will do the trick, but readers have come up with some great tips for ways to keep their bird baths open in winter. Here are five of our favorites.
I made my own heated bird bath by lining a 5-gallon bucket with old carpet and filling it halfway with gravel. Then, I inserted a light socket with a 60-watt lightbulb into the bucket and set a dish of water on top. (Use extreme care that you don’t splash water onto the socket. Always use a GFI outlet.) The light heats the rock, which keeps the water in the dish from freezing. —Larry Vink, Topeka, Kansas
I don’t have a heated bird bath, but I still provide water for my winter birds during the cold season. In the morning when the water in my bird bath is frozen, I simply pour hot water over the ice. This quickly loosens it, and I pop the ice right out of the bird bath. Then I refill it with warm water. When it’s really cold, I’ll do this a few times a day. —Sherry Schoberg, Elkridge, Maryland
To provide water for birds in winter, I fill a metal bucket with hot ash from my fireplace. Then I’ll take the ash outside and set a metal dish on top of the bucket and fill it with water. The ashes keep the water from freezing for quite a while. —Erma Evans, Garfield, Arkansas
I set a dish filled with water on a barrel located just below a window. Because the water freezes quickly, I just open the window, remove the ice that accumulates in the dish and refill it. It’s very convenient, and the birds appreciate my extra effort. —Margaret Retz, Boyceville, Wisconsin
To provide water for the winter birds, I fill a shallow metal pan with water and clamp an auto repair light below it. A 60-watt lightbulb keeps it thawed. —Diana Austin, Douglasville, Georgia
L. Manna says
Love the ideas using a lightbulb; it sure beats a long, cold trek to the bird bath every morning with a kettle of boiling water and an ice chipper. More than that, it solves the problem of the bird bath freezing over before the birds get to use it. Thanks!
L. Manna says
Love the ideas using the light bulb; it sure beats a long, cold to trek to the bird bath every morning with a kettle of boiling water and an ice pick. More than that, it solves the problem of the bird bath freezing over before the birds have a chance to use it. Thanks!
Bob Anderson says
You don’t identify the little cold bird in the photo. Isn’t it a European Robin? And if it is, why not tell the folks that our American Robin got his “Robin Red-Breast” name from early settlers who thought the birds they were seeing might be Robins?
I use a sort-of expensive, but oh so convenient, electric heated birdbath.
Chris Earle says
It’s a bluebird. A female. There is blue on the wings though it’s hard to see it. We have a couple of them that stay the winter. European robins are colored a little different.
cj says
I thought it looked like a bluebird! I feed live mealworms to “my” flock of 20+ each day when they show up for the free meal of the day!
C. Winkler says
I splurged a bit – bought a regular bird bath heater and outdoor extension cord. The heater turns itself off if the water isn’t freezing, and when the bath goes dry. The heater has to be cleaned occasionally, of course, and the hard water build up removed to keep it temperature-sensitive. It’s less work for me and more available for the winter birds – and saves electricity.
J. DeVoe says
I bought a heater for the water. You just set it in the bird bath and plug it in. In really cold weathr the edge will sometimes frost or freeze but the center stays warm. My bird bath is circular and about 2 inches deep and sits in a rod iron platform.
Bought it years ago and its still in great shape!
Jo Johnstone says
I use heated bird baths. Bluebirds love to use them in the winter just like in the featured picture.
Dottie Brewer says
I use one of these and it has kept the water thawed at 3 below. http://www.sears.com/farm-innovators-wldbrd-bird-bath-de-icer-338354/p-SPM11287330715?prdNo=15&blockNo=15&blockType=G15
KARIN BALES says
I bought a heated dog bowl at Tractor Supply. I put it on top of my regular bird bath and fill with water. Works great!
C. Andrews says
Be careful not to let water collect in the birdbath or it may seep inside the heated dog bowl causing it to short out.
Jan Burrows says
that is what I use too.
Diane Hollister says
I use drainage pan that goes under a flower pot on top of a pot full of dirt so it’s not directly on the cement porch for the birdbath. I bought an aquarium pump with the plastic tubing held in place in the water by rocks. The pump causes the water to circulate and even if the edges freeze, the water in the center does not freeze except in a very hard freeze. Plus there’s the sound of moving water that draws the birds in. Two for one!!
Peggy says
I have had a heated birdbath right outside my dining room window for many years. I stood a 5ft birch log upright and sunk 1ft into the ground. I took 2 large plastic flower pot dishes (same size)-nailed one into the top end of the log. Then I set the other dish in the first. It is easy to remove and clean. Birds are fussy, they don’t like dirty water. We have received so much pleasure year round, from watching the goings on. Squirrels come and drink too. Sometimes there is a “waiting line” of “bathers”. I change the water twice a week. I bought the water heater at a farm supply store.
Joan Gustin says
I have a heated birdbath that clamps to the porch, a farmers plug cover and heavy extension cord. It keeps the water thawed and very easy to maintain. Dump out the dirty water, wipe it out and refill. 6′ from my deck slider and they love it!
Ed says
I bought a book with woodworking plans I Believe from B & B a long time ago. There are plans in there using a light bulb under a round cake tin encased in a plywood box. With insulation you will only need a 25W or 40W bulb. I found a higher watt bulb will just make the water evaporate faster.
Jan Burrows says
this worked great until the birds tried to take a bath in it then the water splashed all over and hit the light bulb blowing it out! was fun to watch them bath tho
Ruth Killian says
I use a heated water dish for dogs with a rock in the middle for the birds to stand.This has worked great for years. The Bluebirds aways come in as soon as the weather is below freezing.
Diane says
I put a rock in a heated dog dish. I put that in my bird bath. The rock keeps the water where the birds can drink it.
Karl H. says
I use a cheap fish tank heater in my bird bath. Works great as long as you maintain the water level.
Tracy says
I’ve been using a heated dog water bowl. Works great.
Bev Hostyn says
We bought a heated pet bowl. We place it on a bottom shelf of a feeder, They can keep warm beside it as well.
Bev Talbot says
I put a pin hole in a gallon plastic bottle and it will last a long time just sitting on the bird bath, very small hole is all you need
John Simcoe says
Great tips from readers! I wonder… I have a rain barrel that is filled to the brim. I usually keep it clear of ice. considering how deep it is, will it be dangerous for birds? Or just what they need? I don’t want them to drown!
Paula Gratz says
I bought a heated dog dish last year and its working very well. A stray cat was coming around once in awhile for a drink too!
Jesi T says
I use a heated outdoor dog dish. I put it on top of my patio table. I have been doing this for a couple years now. Every couple days I dump it and wipe it out and refresh the water. Perfect size, perfect height on the patio table, just need an outdoor plug & an extension cord. About $15 for years of use.
velma says
I just bought a heated dog waterer and put a brick in it for them to stand on (because the dog waterer is deeper). works great and so easy to clean. FYI hot water freezes faster than cold water.
Jack says
Even though the birdbath heaters are relatively inexpensive I’d rather not run an extension cord out to the birdbath so instead of pouring hot water on the ice in the morning as I had been, I just empty it before it freezes overnight and then fill it in the morning.
Glen Spicer says
If your bird feeder is a hollow ceramic column like mine, a light inside it warms the air in the hollow space and the ceramic too. Since warm air rises the water in the bowl benefits as well. Before I did this a freeze split the ceramic bowl so I replaced it with a metal pan used for feeding other animals and it won’t break even if the water freezes should the bulb go out.
Kathy says
I purchased an inexpensive heated dog bowl. The birds use it while the dogs are inside!
Sue says
Use a heat dish dish> Done. Or if you have the money buy a heated bird bath. I sit my on a garbage can and it works great.
BJ says
I just buy a bird bath heater at my local bird store Wild Birds Unlimited.. They are all less than $60 you just put them in the birdbath plug them in and you are done. All you have to do is refill it with freshwater every couple of days. I live in the mountains of New Mexico. It gets plenty cold here. So much easier, and the heaters are inexpensive.
Elaine Poage says
Fill a small plastic coke bottle about 1/3 water and salt. It will float around your birdbath and the movement will keep the water from freezing.
Donna says
Omg! I chose this method because it was cheap and easy! It’s been below freezing for over a week now. This really works! Thanks
Larry Miller says
I use a plastic bucket set in the center of my bird bath with potting soil around it with flowers and place a fish tank heater in the bucket with a timer to keep the water from freezing over night.
Carol McPherson says
Or you can order a safe great bird bath heater from Amazon. Round flat and works perfectly.
Romy Walker says
I use a heated dog water bowl. Works perfectly. If you have electricity why do it any other way. They come in different sizes.
Romy Walker says
I use an electric heated dog water bowl. If you have access to electricity it seems the easiest way. The come in different sizes as well.
Marty says
My first try was 8-10 inches of water in a bucket. I put 2 sticks inside. Sticks were for the birds to perch on , and when it freezes,I break up ice to get to the unfrozen section. We’ll see
how that goes.
Maria says
I also do not want to run electric extension cords. I have 3 birdbaths around my property that the birds get used to having all summer. In the winter, I use a round, silicone cake pan in each bird bath. When it freezes I simply pop it out and refill with fresh water. Easy and quick to do! The birds love it and will drink and even bathe on the coldest days.
Papa says
I bought a birdbath heater and put it out one year but I only saw birds at it once, a few mourning doves. We had a lot of snow that year and the birds will consume the snow for their hydration. If you have snow, don’t waste your money on a heater.